Committee set to discuss new Downtown Peoria war monument

Chris Kaergard

Wednesday

May 30, 2012 at 12:01 AMMay 30, 2012 at 3:16 AM

A group of residents and Peoria County Board members will take the first steps Wednesday in what's likely to be a lengthy process to decide whether to create one or more monuments Downtown to honor veterans who served in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

A group of residents and Peoria County Board members will take the first steps Wednesday in what's likely to be a lengthy process to decide whether to create one or more monuments Downtown to honor veterans who served in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

That differs from the faster speed and firm determination about type of monument and location that was suggested at some Memorial Day events during the weekend.

The ad hoc committee, which will make recommendations and provide input for the County Board, hasn't had its first meeting.

Committee members emphasize their goal remains the same: to honor more of the area's veterans.

"I just think there's a tremendous opportunity because of the (Peoria County Courthouse) square being used so much that there's a great opportunity to get the information out to the youngest generations . . . Korea and Vietnam and the current struggles in the war on terror," said local attorney and veteran Bruce Thiemann on Tuesday.

The committee needs to decide who will be honored and when.

Previous talks - dating back to the creation of the county's World Wars I and II Memorial in the courthouse plaza - had identified a memorial devoted to veterans of Korea and Vietnam as the next priority, with other displays in the future for those who served in later conflicts.

"The intent was to focus first on Korea and Vietnam," County Board member Phil Salzer said Tuesday.

Board member Bob Baietto said he hoped that even if any memorial was limited to just those conflicts, planning for it would include mapping out ideas for future memorials.

"I'm hoping in the process we can get in the planning stage for every conflict," he said.

Any memorial also would likely depend on private fundraising, as did the World Wars I and II Memorial. Salzer emphasized that discussion of the county being able - or ready - to pony up large amounts of taxpayer cash for the construction was just talk.

"The county cannot afford a budget of $300,000," he said, though that doesn't preclude an effort by interested groups to secure donations for that or any other final project cost.

Chris Kaergard can be reached at 686-3135 or ckaergard@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisKaergard.

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